Mountain Biking - Could this be a cassette problem????

I have posted a few threads the past couple of weeks trying to get info on my new XT derailleur, shifters and so forth. It took some time to get the derailleur adjusted and working right. The bike shifts up and down with out any problems, except in 5TH gear. When I am in 5Th gear and it doesn't matter whether I am in the granny in front or middle, the chain keeps slipping, and slipping bad to the point where it is dangerous to be in that gear.All other 8 have no problems whatsoever. I took my wheel off and really looked at the cassette, to see if I had a broken or bent tooth, but it looks fine, at least in my eyes. So what do you all think, bad 5th gear cog? At this point I don't think it is the derailleur.

I have posted a few threads the past couple of weeks trying to get info on my new XT derailleur, shifters and so forth. It took some time to get the derailleur adjusted and working right. The bike shifts up and down with out any problems, except in 5TH gear. When I am in 5Th gear and it doesn't matter whether I am in the granny in front or middle, the chain keeps slipping, and slipping bad to the point where it is dangerous to be in that gear.All other 8 have no problems whatsoever. I took my wheel off and really looked at the cassette, to see if I had a broken or bent tooth, but it looks fine, at least in my eyes. So what do you all think, bad 5th gear cog? At this point I don't think it is the derailleur.

All your threads are great and all maybe, but I suspect you're using a worn cassette (at least in the gear you use most, but since you don't replace single cogs any more, it just means the cassette is of limited use now). You can't necessarily see by eye what's going on in a worn cassette in any case...but if it's skipping in a gear you use a lot of then it's probably just worn...and a new chain will simply exacerbate that...

Honestly, I hope that is the problem. Cause I really like the XT Shadow. I was thinking tonight while riding just what you wrote. On the trails it does seem the gear 5 in rear and granny in front is my most used gear. So yes I am most likely asking a really stupid ? ;) But I am also one who like to be reassured that what I am thinking is right. At this point, even though I really don't need to spend the $$$.I am really thinking about getting a new crankset, chain and cassette, then I will have a complete brandy new drive train. I just didn't want to spent all that and still have the same problem. This MTN biking thing is way to expensive. :twitchy: